As a minister, I’ve often been asked, “Can a Christian in good conscience vote for a non-Christian?”

This question is relevant today because a Mormon is on the ballot this year: Mitt Romney. To answer this question we must first determine if a Mormon is indeed a non-Christian. Mormons often identify themselves as Christian; however, while the two religions share much of the same vocabulary and values, the differences between the two in how Jesus Christ is viewed, followed and worshiped are just too great for them to be thought of as the same.

Consequently, is it acceptable for a Christian to vote for a Mormon in the upcoming election? To answer this important question, I will address the objections most often raised.

While acknowledging that Mormons are wonderful neighbors and citizens who share common values, most Christians believe the LDS church is teaching a false gospel. Since the alternative to Mitt Romney is a candidate who supports abortion and gay marriage, this election is looked at as a choice between the lesser of two evils. I believe this is a misguided objection and prefer to think of it as a question of the better of two choices. Romans 3:10 teaches us that we are all sinful; no one is righteous. There will never be a candidate for president that is spotless and without sin; thus we must recognize that both candidates, like the rest of us, have their faults.

Another objection that people give to voting for a non-Christian is that the Bible forbids, or at least, strongly discourages us from doing so. While I do not profess to be a Bible scholar or a theologian, what I have read and studied has not led me to that conclusion. I have reviewed the dozens of websites that claim a Biblical mandate against voting for Mitt Romney, and what I have found is a lot of opinion and interpretation being confused with actual scripture. As far as I can tell, there are no Bible verses that explicitly forbid it. On the other hand, the Bible is full of examples where God used non-believers to further His will. Perhaps this is one of those times.

As I see it, well-meaning Christians withholding their vote for Mitt Romney on biblical grounds are confusing their civic duty as a citizen with their priestly duty as a Christian. We are not electing a pastor or a deacon; we are electing a person to act as both CEO and commander in chief. It’s a hiring decision, and just as we would want the best available surgeon in a life-or-death situation, competency to carry out the duties of the office should be a leading factor when deciding on a president.

Does that mean that morals and values should not be considered when deciding for whom to vote? Absolutely not; Christians should evaluate both candidates in these regards. And while President Obama is by every indication a loving father and devoted husband, many Christians have serious issues with his support for abortion and gay marriage.

When Christians step into that voting booth, they shouldn’t just ask themselves, “Which candidate do I trust to handle the economy and foreign affairs?”; they should also ask themselves, “Which candidate best represents my values? Therein, I submit, is the answer to the prevailing question.

I personally have a strong conviction to vote for the candidate whom I believe will fight to preserve our Judeo-Christian founding principles and who will defend traditional marriage and the life of the unborn.

In this election, that candidate just happens to be a Mormon.

The Rev. Larry Taylor is the Worship Pastor at Trinity Fellowship Church in Marietta and also works in construction management.

The Vulcan time of mating is known as Pon Farr, and is a very painful and personal experience. It strips logic away from Vulcans, and forces them to return to Vulcan to take a mate. Spock compares the need to return to Vulcan to the Eel Birds of Regulus 5, who return every 11 years to the caverns where they hatched, and to salmon on Earth who must return to the stream where they were born in order to spawn. Kirk contacts Admiral Komack at Starfleet Command sector 9 to request permission to divert to Vulcan. The Admiral denies permission, but Kirk ignores the order (since he would be one of three Starships there in any case), and re-directs to Vulcan.

Mormonism is very good at distorting logic in order to maintain its bizarre beliefs. The Faith is based on Lies, Deception, Polygamy and a convicted fraud Prophet. Mormon Polygamy was practiced and strongly defended by the Mormon Church for many years, the Mormon church banned the practice ONLY after Congress pressured and the Supreme Court passed the Edmunds Act, which stated that the martial form of polygamy was a felony, punishable by five years of imprisonment, threatened to take away ALL civil rights of Mormons, including depriving them of their citizenship, voting and holding any political office. The fact is, if it wasn't for the U.S. Government stepping in, Mormons today would continue their Polygamous behavior just like you see with offshoots of the faith à la Warren Jeff’s the now convicted prophet of the FLDS Church, along with past leaders Brigham Young and Joseph Smith. The Mormon religion has been treated as a Cult throughout the majority of developed nations and as well as the vast majority of Christian Denominations.

Joseph Smith taught the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on the earth, and that without obedience to that principle no man can ever attain to the fullness of exaltation in the celestial glory.” (William Clayton, Joseph Smith’s secretary, Historical Record)

You said you have a strong conviction to vote for the candidate who will fight to preserve our Judeo-Christian founding principles and who will defend traditional marriage and the life of the unborn.

While we know that Mr. Obama clearly meets none of those requirements, it would also be self-delusional to think that Mitt Romney would do any of those things either.

As a Mormon, Mitt shares the LDS organizations political agenda and has sworn an Oath of Consecration in the Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony to submitting to the "Prophet" as their false-god, Elohim of Kolob dictates. For details, see the article below:

http://www.janishutchinson.com/agenda.html

And these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p80KSrf6SGE&feature=plcp

http://hotm.tv/92/

Also, Romney, as governor of Massachussetts, implemented the establishment of same-sex marriage via an Executive Order following the Mass. Supreme Court ruling. Where was the fight for traditional marriage there?

Further, as governor of Mass, Romney stated that he supported a woman's "right to choose" an abortion, implemented gov't-subsidized abortions in Romney care, and mandated that Catholic health institutions provide abortions and abortifacients.

Lookit...just because he's Anybody But Obama, doesn't mean he will meet your requirements for your vote. Look at what the politicians DO, not what they SAY.

For Christians especially, we need to consider what Mormonism teaches and how Mitt Romney is not just a nominal observer of the religion, but a fully dedicated, multi-generational adherent. If you do any research on the internet, you will easily find that it is a Luciferian, henotheistic (form of polytheism)cult religion with a false, created, not-born-of-a-virgin, polygamous Christ and where the ultimate goal of the religion is to become a god, with a harem of wives. So, after you consider those things, and any other of the theological atrocities of Mormonism, you MUST conclude that the one, true God hates it, as He hates all idols and false religions.

Will those who follow the True Jesus Christ provide the means to legitimacy for this anti-Christ organization by voting for their man?

After educating myself on Mormonism during the election, I would have to agree that Mormons are not Christian.

Probably the most disturbing belief of Mormonism is, if a Mormon follows their doctrine perfectly, then they will become God (one of many Gods in the universe), and create their own earth to rule for eternity.

Giving a person with that belief system control of the nuclear football is more than a bit frightening. What actions might that person be able to justify in their own mind, in order to achieve "Godhood"?

And if you order a Mormon Bible, you are going to get the Book of Mormon, yes they accept the King James, but the Mormon scripture is not complete without the Book of Mormon.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)There is no such thing as a "Mormon Bible." Mormons don't talk about or have a "Mormon Bible. Mormons have the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is never thought of or referred to as the "Mormon Bible" except by outsiders who are trying to paint Mormons in a bad light.

Friendly Web Editor

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October 31, 2012

Mr. Rogers,

I have deleted several of your comments for length.

Please try to hold your comments to less than 450 words to gain editorial approval.

Dejay

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October 31, 2012

What about christian values that are trampled upon by CEO's that ship jobs overseas when the company is profitable? Jesus would have an entirely different opinion on this CEO you are advertising. As an atheists, I have more values than many people who CLAIM to be religious, but ignore the teachings of their philosophy.

The Nicene Creed, which most Christians formulate their doctrine from, read as follows:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

To paraphrase, the Nicene Creed says "I believe in one god, the Father...And in one Lord Jesus Christ...And I bleive in the Holy Ghost..."

That makes three.

anonymous

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October 31, 2012

Nowhere in Mormon teaching do we find anything like: "They also believe that there are other inhabited planets ruled by gods who were formerly human." Please cite sources published by the Mormon Church. Please cite something that shows that this is a teaching of the LDS Church. It is not. It is a characterization of the LDS Church by critics who want to put the Mormons down.

AnaC

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October 31, 2012

I have had trouble with the fact that abortion and gay rights are not the only christian issues to be considered. I actually think those two issues blind some of my dear evangelical brothers and sisters into ignoring our responsibility to care for the poor, the sick and the oppressed. I'm sad to hear such lack of compassion on these issues by mere omission. I vote with that conviction--who will help the poor and the sick? I don't think this is just a neighbor-neighbor issue, but a surely a civic issue. As a follower of Christ, I'm leading towards President Obama just based on my concern for the those in need both in my church and community. Reading the sermon on the mount today for my devotional only helped reassure that I will not necessarily be voting against Christian values if I decide to vote for Obama.

Religious people. What a bunch of self deluded, judgmental, self righteous fools. If ANYONE tries to tell you that they know what god is thinking, laugh, then walk away. If ANYONE tries to tell you that you will go to hell forever if you do not believe what they believe, it would be completely understandable if you relieved yourself on their leg. I am sorry, but I have little respect or empathy for the religious. Mankind has suffered enough at the hands of fundamentalists.

As an educated American living in 2012, it astounds me that people still believe their made up mythology is more truthful than another's. We don't have to believe in things people made up thousands of years anymore. WE have science. Stop making decisions based on fake hocus pocus, people.

Voting or not voting for a candidate simply because of his/her religion is like voting for Obama just because he is black (which many are guilty of).

Regardless of the uneducated comments about mormons in this article, Rev. Taylor is at least correct in his final conclusion that you should consider only how each candidate will handle the current situations, uphold your moral views, and lead the nation.

That said, to say that Mormon's aren't Christians is like saying the earth is a giant square. Nothing could be far from the truth.

Mormon belief regarding Christ:

1. Mormon Bible: King James Version

2. Jesus is the Son of God

3. Jesus is the Saviour of the world who paid the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind

4. One must have Faith in Christ to be saved

5. One must repent and be baptized in Christ's name

6. If you love Him, keep His commandments (John 14:15) and feed his sheep (John 21:15-17).

If that doesn't fit the definition of a Christian, then I doubt any exist. If you still believe that Mormon's aren't Christian, talk to one in person about it, or visit Mormon dot org.

You make a couple of mistakes here. Likening their words to the faith is incorrect. Jesus is not the son of god but rather a person called Jehovah who is separate from Eloheim (Elohim). Additionally, the idea of separate Gods is true. Christianity is monotheistic. We believe that God is God preented as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mormonism believes there are many gods. Like I said, it is not enough to use the same words and then claim you are a Christian.

anonymous

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October 31, 2012

Please understand that in my previous comment, I was discussing the Mormon perspective. Clearly Jesus is God made flesh represented as the Son in Christianity. In Mormonism, he is somehow connected to someone named Jehovah who is not Elohim. If you really looked at the Mormon version of the creation and first humans, I think you'd see why their Jesus can't be our Jesus and thus their Christianity is not the generally accepted Christianity.

ACorley

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October 31, 2012

I am a christian and pray to my God daily & read the Holy Bible often. I find it very important that our president be a christian and pray to my God for the guidance he needs to run our country smooth and peacefully without corruption and chaos.

So many want to narrow the Bible teachings down to only abortions & same sex marriages. Does the rest of the bible matter or are we to tell Bible believers that 1 or 2 issues matter more than any other? The teaching of our Jesus Christ are filled with examples of him helping the needy, feeding the hungry, healing the sick and wounded and taking the haves to task for ignoring the have-nots..

I have heard so many different stories surrounding what the Mormons believe therefore I am uncertain if they should be considered a christian or not. President Obama's dad was a Muslim, but as he has been serving as our president he has been attending St. Johns Episcopal Church in DC and has stated he is a christian. I heard him say a prayer to our God on Easter Sunday from the Whitehouse.

1) I agree with Rev. Taylor's charitable impulse,that we can and must make alliance with those who believe differently than we do.

2) When Mormons hear others describe them as not being Christian it sounds to them like a bald faced lie. It sounds to them like an attempt to deceive others into believing that Jesus Christ is not at the heart of their faith, that he is not their beloved savior and redeemer.

Mormons do not want to be considered as orthodox Christians, or traditional Christians, or ecumenical Christians. But they want people to know that that no matter what names you call them, they are and will always remain disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The problem here is we know Romney isn't a Christian. You just suspect (dare I say hope) Obama isn't. Rev. Taylor's opinion is his own and despite his attempt to base it in scripture, I think he fails. It is impossible to read them and not come away with the idea that we should be defenders of the Gospel and should make decisions that are biblically based. To knowingly elect someone who isn't a Christian (especially when the motives themselves are probably not Christian) is a mistake. I don't understand how we won't invite Mormons into our homes to let them share their religion (you know you don't) but yet, it's ok to vote for one for president. The hypocrisy is amazing to me. Ask Rev. Taylor if he'd let a Mormon bishop preach from his pulpit because he believes in the sancity of life and traditional marriage.

Southern Democrat

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October 30, 2012

There are more issues than abortion & gay marriage. (When republicans have been in control of both the oval office and congress, they didn't pass abortion legislation. President Obama inherited an awful mess left by George W. Bush. To name a few of Bush's screw ups, Look at the WMD debacle in Iraq, two wars, a stock market that was falling and falling and falling, our borders were being overrun with illegal immigrants, the automakers were broke, the financial institutions were insolvent, and the experts agree The Unites States was very close to economic collapse. What about the housing market collapse? What about reports of Citizens of The Unites States being subjected to Torture, wiretapping and Search & Seizure? Was that all made up? Doubtful....The federal government is watching you... and some little bureaucrat in D.C. can give a command and take you away, even if you are an American citizen. Your civil liberties are under attack by the republican political machine in Washington. WAKE UP!!!

If Romney were to get in (which he won't) we'd be in a war with Iran, before Spring and the price of food & fuel would more than double.

I'll vote for Obama. He's looking out for ordinary citizens... Romney is in the pocket of big corporations who'd like to eliminate pensions and workers rights, eliminate environmental protections, and send jobs to factories in Mexico and China. Blue Collar America simply cannot risk voting for Romney. The GOP also wants to eliminate tough environmental protection laws. We can't afford another republican.

What we can't afford is another 4 years of Obama. I think you'll be surprised at the results next Tuesday.

Lillian Iowa Dem

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October 31, 2012

I so agree, Southern Democrat.

Actually, in Mitt Romney's case, his Mormonism IS an issue, because he has been raised deep within his church's upper eschelons to think he fulfills the "White Horse Prophecy"--that a Mormon will become President and make the USA a Mormon theocracy. I don't mind others being Mormons (not much, at least), but I sure don't want their odd beliefs forced on the rest of us!

Here is actual footage of Mormon secret ceremonies; notice that GOD reaches a hand through a curtain, that children are dunked as baptism for dead relatives, and that freemason symbols are used, among other things https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6udew9axmdM

Too funny

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October 30, 2012

Just because Mormons believe that God lives on or around the heretofore uncharted planet Kolob, and that special magic underwear protects them from evil, and that lying to protect the image of the Mormon religion is perfectly fine, that doesn't make them weird or anything...

It would be weird if we believed those things. But, Kolob is a star, not a planet. We do not have MAGICAL underwear, and we do not believe in lying about anything. Least of all what we believe.

Too funny

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October 31, 2012

Google is your enemy when it comes to these kinds of things. Here are the search terms: Kolob, Temple Garments, Lying for the Lord. Am I still wrong?

Don Ormsby

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October 31, 2012

Yes, "Too Funny", you are still wrong. Google is also YOUR enemy if you are a discriminating and objective researcher.

Dwight Rogers

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October 31, 2012

These are items circulated by critics who intend to cherry pick and sensationalize to make Mormons look bad. It makes people who circulate these items look uninformed. And apparently they are uninformed. You would do better to find more correct information.

For example: LDS belief does not say that God is on the planet Kolob but rather that Kolob is a star near to where God is. Ancient Semitic documents, not yet discovered in Joseph Smith's day, mention the star Kolob as the central or preeminent star and give it meanings similar to the meanings Joseph Smith gave. The information was not available in Joseph Smith's day and is one out of many examples of things Joseph Smith got right and which are supported by modern scholarship.

How did Joseph get it right when the information wasn’t available in Joseph Smith’s day?

DOF

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October 31, 2012

LindaSDF - Maybe you don't but Romney certainly does.

Too funny

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October 31, 2012

Dwight and Don, thank you so much for letting me know that Google has been infiltrated by people out to make that poor, unfairly besmirched Joseph Smith cult known as Mormonism look bad - surely their ridiculous beliefs had nothing to do with it...

stunned, again

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October 30, 2012

While I am happy that the final decision is to vote for Romney, I am simply stunned that we are having this discussion in America. How would the Evangelicals like it if we (Catholics, Anglicans etc) decided that we might or might not vote for them because of what WE thought their relationship to God was? Every man's relationship with God is his and his alone. To cast any kind of judgement on Romney because of the church he attends is nothing else but bigotry. To be self-righteous and judgmental does not make one a better person, in any way, in fact, quite the contrary.

I'm not sure what a Fellowshiop" church is, but I totally agree with Rev. Taylor, that he is no biblical scholar.

Further, his opinion that Mormons are not Christians is skewed by the fact that he appears to be a victim of the Christian disease known as "If-you- don't-think-like me-you ain't-a-Christian-itis." The cure for that is removal of the blinders.

It is a common ailment among many Christians including the Baptists (where I grew up) and the Catholics (of which I am currently a member.

The Boible has been interpreted to mean thousands of different things over the centureis, and most of them are probably both wrong and right, to an extent.

However, he who seeks to judge his fellow man, based on his interpretation is himself subject to judgement. Perhaps the good Reverand needs to do as I did many years ago and enroll is a course of study about what Mormons really believe, instead of falling prey to the many false prophets. Reverend Taylor, do you know what you get when you order a Mormon Bible? You get a King James Version of the Bible, which reads word-for-word exactly like the one my mother gave me 65 years ago.

Mormons believe in Jesus Christ the same way you do. Where you differ is that they do not think God quit sending prophets when Jesus was born.

Mormons are most assuredly Christians, by any yardstick, except bligthed opinion.

if you are referring to the "Book of Mormon", then no it is not anyway near the KJV. And no, they are not the same in the theologies.

Sandy Gillette

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October 31, 2012

It's OK to vote for whomever you please. This is a free country and it's against the LAW to try to tell anyone how to vote. So, Rev. I'll vote for the President to have another term and you vote for the member of the LDS Church and the Catholic. And good luck with that.

Set you free

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October 31, 2012

You are either a moron or a Mormon who is lying for the lord. Mormons and Christians don't even have the same starting point when it comes to who god is (e.g. Eternal being vs normal man who became exhaled) or how meany their are (one vs many). You either need to do more research on Mormons or quit lying about it just to get your guy into office.

Dwight Rogers

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October 31, 2012

The Book of Mormon teaches the same things as does the Bible. It is a second witness of Biblical teaching and is especially a second witness of Jesus Christ - the Jesus Christ of the Bible. People should actually read it before commenting on it.

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